Alyssa: My new novel, The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence, tells the story of real-life historical figure Simonetta Vespucci, who is the woman depicted in Botticelli’s famous painting The Birth of Venus. The novel follows her life as she marries her husband, Marco, and moves with him to Florence, where she meets the Medici family and their glittering circle of politicians, artists and writers. She is soon proclaimed the most beautiful woman in Florence, and Botticelli invites her to pose for him, which leads to a very passionate artist and muse relationship.

Joyce: Is there anything interesting that’s happened to you while doing research for a book?

Alyssa: In a book I read while researching The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence, I came across a passage about Dante and Beatrice that talked about how Beatrice actually thought Dante was a bit of a creeper and did not return his feelings at all. I thought this was fascinating, since we tend to think of Dante and his Beatrice as a great love story, but acknowledged that it probably wouldn’t fit into the novel. Yet later on, lo and behold, something about the one-sidedness of Dante and Beatrice’s “relationship” was coming out of my heroine’s mouth. It just goes to show that you never know what information and tidbits will come in handy while writing!

Joyce: Do you have any particular rituals that help you get into the writing frame of mind?

Alyssa: I step away from the manuscript for a day or two. I find that then my mind will keep working in the background on the problem that I’m stuck on as I’m going about my life, but with much less pressure than when you’re staring at a blank page. This strategy usually gets me unstuck within a few days or less.

Joyce: Do you write by the seat of your pants, or do you carefully plot your stories?

Alyssa: I’m a total pantser at heart, but with historical fiction that’s not always possible. I did outline the last third or so of The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence because I needed to map out how best to weave together a couple actual historical events and some of my own invention. For my current work-in-progress, though, I am actually outlining the whole thing, because it’s so dependent on actual historical events that there’s no earthly way I can keep it all straight in my head.

Alyssa: Chocolate and more chocolate! I also usually have a cup of tea as well. I like trying out new tea flavors, and as a result my cabinet is somewhat overflowing.

Joyce: What TV show or other activity interferes with your writing schedule?

Alyssa: Reading! Almost every day it feels like I struggle with wanting to both write my own books and read all the amazing books written by others. I try to balance the two out as much as I can. Sometimes there’s just nothing better than a day on the couch with a good book, though!

Joyce: What’s your ideal scenery while you’re writing?

Alyssa: A body of water of any kind. I love looking at water — be it rivers or lakes or streams or the ocean. If I was one for astrology I would say it’s because I’m a Pisces, a water sign, but who knows. I’ve just always loved being near water.

Joyce: Do you listen to music while you write? What are some tunes on your playlist?

Alyssa: Always! I can’t really write without music; it seems to unlock something in my brain. And I’m always creating playlists for my books and works-in-progress. Below are some songs on the playlist of my current work-in-progress: Citizen Zero by Kamelot, Everybody Dies by Ayreon, Living a Lie by Epica, Where is the Edge by Within Temptation, Planet Hell by Nightwish, Liar Liar (Wasteland Monarchy) by Kamelot, Heaven’s a Lie by Lacuna Coil, The Glory and the Scum by Delain.

Joyce: What are you working on now?

Alyssa: There is a third novel in the works, but I can’t say too much about that now. At the moment, I’m at the beginning of a new project that is also set in Renaissance Italy. It’s very different from The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence, though: It’s going to be very dark and political.

Joyce: Thanks, Alyssa!

About The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence:

A girl as beautiful as Simonetta Cattaneo never wants for marriage proposals in 15th Century Italy, but she jumps at the chance to marry Marco Vespucci. Marco is young, handsome and well-educated. Not to mention he is one of the powerful Medici family’s favored circle.

Even before her marriage with Marco is set, Simonetta is swept up into Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici’s glittering circle of politicians, poets, artists, and philosophers. The men of Florence—most notably the rakish Giuliano de’ Medici—become enthralled with her beauty. That she is educated and an ardent reader of poetry makes her more desirable and fashionable still. But it is her acquaintance with a young painter, Sandro Botticelli, which strikes her heart most. Botticelli immediately invites Simonetta, newly proclaimed the most beautiful woman in Florence, to pose for him. As Simonetta learns to navigate her marriage, her place in Florentine society, and the politics of beauty and desire, she and Botticelli develop a passionate intimacy, one that leads to her immortalization in his masterpiece, The Birth of Venus.

Alyssa Palombo’s The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence vividly captures the dangerous allure of the artist and muse bond with candor and unforgettable passion.

About Alyssa

Alyssa Palombo is the author of The Violinist of Venice. She has published short fiction pieces in Black Lantern Magazine and The Great Lakes Review. She is a recent graduate of Canisius College with degrees in English and creative writing, respectively. A passionate music lover, she is a classically trained musician as well as a big fan of heavy metal. The Violinist of Venice is her first novel. She lives in Buffalo, New York.